UFC Vegas 116 (UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal / UFC Fight Night 274) is scheduled at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada (Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Valley), United States.
Prelims begin at 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT, with the main card starting at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT (7:00 PM CDT). The event streams live on Paramount+.
The card is headlined by a featherweight bout between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and surging contender Youssef Zalal. The bout you asked about—Jafel Filho vs. Cody Durden (flyweight, 125 lbs)—is on the preliminary card. This is a last-minute replacement: Filho was originally scheduled to face Lucas Rocha, who withdrew due to an undisclosed injury; Durden stepped in on six days’ notice.
Injury Report
No injuries reported for Jafel Filho or Cody Durden. Both are expected to compete at full capacity. Durden is coming in healthy on short notice (his second such appearance recently). The broader UFC Vegas 116 card has been hit by multiple late changes and withdrawals (including Rocha’s injury, prior issues with Norma Dumont’s matchup, Marcus Buchecha’s original opponent, and others), but this flyweight prelim remains confirmed and on schedule.
Fighter Matchup: Jafel Filho vs. Cody Durden (Flyweight – 3 Rounds)
Jafel Filho (“Pastor,” Brazil, age 32, Nova União)
Record: 17-4-0 (UFC: 3-2)
Height/Reach: 5’7″ / 69″
Stance: Orthodox (grappling-heavy)
Recent Form (last 4 fights): Win (submission – Kimura, Rd 1 vs. Clayton Carpenter – Oct 11, 2025); Loss (unanimous decision vs. Allan Nascimento – May 31, 2025); Win (submission – RNC, Rd 1 vs. Ode Osbourne – Mar 16, 2024); Win (submission – arm-triangle, Rd 1 vs. Daniel Barez – Jul 22, 2023).
Key Strengths: Elite submission specialist (11 career subs, 9 in recent wins); dangerous finisher who ends fights early (8 of last 10 wins by stoppage). Strong Brazilian jiu-jitsu pedigree, capable of scrambling and capitalizing on openings. Also has KO power (5 career KOs/TKOs).
Fight History Notes: Entered UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series (KO win). Quick finishes against solid competition (Carpenter, Osbourne, Barez), but losses to elite grapplers (Mokaev by RNC in debut; Nascimento by decision). Riding momentum from the Carpenter sub and looking to climb the flyweight ranks.
Cody Durden (“Custom Made,” USA, age 35, American Top Team)
Record: 17-10-1 (UFC: 6-8-1)
Height/Reach: 5’7″ / (comparable)
Stance: Southpaw
Recent Form (last 5 fights): Loss (unanimous decision vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel – Mar 7, 2026); Loss (vs. Allan Nascimento – Nov 2025); Loss (vs. Jose Ochoa – Jun 2025); Loss (vs. Joshua Van – Dec 2024); Win (vs. Matt Schnell – Sep 2024).
Key Strengths: Gritty veteran with solid wrestling pressure and durability; capable of grinding out rounds when healthy. Wins over names like Charles Johnson and Schnell earlier in UFC run.
Fight History Notes: Long-time UFC flyweight who has alternated streaks. Currently on a four-fight losing skid and 1-6 in his last seven UFC appearances (promotional record now 6-8-1). Short-notice specialist but entering with significant momentum issues.
b Flyweight clash pitting an elite submission threat (Filho) against a slumping veteran wrestler/striker (Durden) on short notice. Filho’s grappling should dominate once the fight hits the mat; Durden’s pressure and takedown attempts may struggle against Filho’s scrambles and finishing ability—especially coming in cold after a four-fight skid. Expect Filho to hunt early finishes or control the pace on the ground. Short-notice factor heavily favors the fresher, higher-finishing fighter.
FIGHT ODDS
Jafel Filho – 650
Cody Durden + 475
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 24, 2026
